Private schools to file fresh plea over fee hike

Private unaided schools across the state have decided to challenge the state government's move to control their fee structure before the Bombay High Court. Senior lawyer, Navroj Seervai, representing the Unaided Schools Forum on Tuesday told the high court that his clients will withdraw the petition challenging an earlier Government Resolution (GR) and file fresh one to challenge the latest resolution issued by the state on July 15.

Private unaided schools across the state have decided to challenge the state government's move to control their fee structure before the Bombay High Court.

Senior lawyer, Navroj Seervai, representing the Unaided Schools Forum on Tuesday told the high court that his clients will withdraw the petition challenging an earlier Government Resolution (GR) and file fresh one to challenge the latest resolution issued by the state on July 15.

The state has sought to regulate fee structures of all private unaided primary, secondary and higher secondary schools through committees to be established under regional Deputy Directors of Education.

The GR provides for drastic actions like withdrawing recognition of the school affiliated to the state board or a No Objection Certificate for schools using ICSE, CBSE or IB syllabus.

Seervai objected to the GR saying, “They have given a go by to their own committee (Bansal Committee),” and sought continuation of the stay orders granted earlier by the court.

Government pleader D.A. Nalawade, however, pointed that private schools had time since the new GR would come into effect only on August 15, a month after its issuance.

Following strong protests from parent's organisations, last year, the government had restrained private schools from hiking fees without obtaining approval from concerned Deputy Directors of Education.

The Unaided Schools Forum and some other organisations challenged the decision in the high court. The government appointed Kumud Bansal committee, which favoured private schools holding they have full autonomy to decide their fees.

Private schools contend the government has no power to regulate fees in unaided institutions in the light of the Apex Court verdicts in TMA Pai Foundation, PA Inamdar and Islamic Academy cases.